Oregon’s success with workers’ comp – Can you imagine a state where rates haven’t increased in nearly 20 years? No, this isn’t a dream – it’s happening in Oregon. Joe Paduda of Managed Care Matters takes a closer look and analyzes Oregon’s success in workers’ comp. Joe notes that there is no single silver bullet, but a total package that contributes to the great results: an active bipartisan stakeholder group that includes management and labor; continual monitoring of the system to measure both processes and outcomes; a structured dispute resolution process with a focus on expediting cases; state-run incentives for return to work; and remarkable employer buy-in to every facet of the program, including OSHA inspections. Go read Joe’s post, he offers more detail.
South Carolina – In September, Governor Mark Sanford issued an executive order requiring the state’s Workers’ Compensation Commission to use objective standards in an effort to control benefit awards which were reported to vary “wildly” averaging 81% higher than other states. This order is receiving push back and prompted a recent clarification of the Workers Comp Order.
California fire update – Fitch Ratings says that the Southern California fires could be the costliest catastrophe insured loss event this year. ” … a preliminary estimate by EQECAT, Inc. has indicated insured losses to date have exceeded $1 billion and will continue to grow. Risk Management Solutions (RMS) estimated insured losses of between $900 million and $1.6 billion and warned that losses could even exceed this level if the wildfires continue to spread. Fitch estimates that each $1 billion of insured loss adds about 20 basis points to the industry’s 2007 loss ratio based on Fitch’s almost $440 billion 2007 net earned premium forecast. Fitch also notes that each $1 billion of homeowners insured loss adds about 190 basis point to the industry’s homeowners 2007 loss ratio.”
Disaster planning – In the wake of the California fires, SHRM has issuing some excellent reports on the employer response to the disaster and how HR is coping in California. These articles make for interesting reading as case reports and they also provide valuable lessons for employers in disaster planning.
NY constructions – Construction Means Debris; Gravity Means It Falls – When a steel bucket tumbled 53 stories off the future Bank of America tower near Bryant Park on Wednesday, raining debris and sending people running for cover, it was hardly a novelty. It was the 74th time this year that something fell from a construction site in New York City, the Buildings Department said yesterday. (Thanks to rawblogXport for the pointer)